More carriages for Northumberland Line?

[Anvil1984]

Yes, this is what I was suggesting. I know various community groups keep suggesting it. Thanks for clarifying.

Not to go off topic, but I don’t think I’ve even seen a double unit on the Newcastle - Morpeth service, so my point is even more moot.

Happens very occasionally on match days or at the end of the day when units are going to Heaton. It causes an issue at Manors as those platforms are short which would be the same issue for Ashington services also.

To be honest I think it’s all moot, being pessimistic and off topic, when Northern get the new stock in 5 years or I think we’ll only get the 3 car variants up here but that’s for the speculative thread

 

[Snex]

If 6 is not being used then 5 & 6 can be combined. It happens rarely with TPE and LNER but I have seen an 80x unit in there and also in the combined 7/8 out the back. This is obviously not ideal as it takes a platform out but the dwell time before the working goes back to Ashington is not too bad.

Yeah, seems like on football days when they double them up they tended to use Platform 2/3 instead so assume something must be booked on 6.

Side note, noticed all the fares have decreased to £2.00 off peak and £2.40 peak time to/from Newcastle from all stations, assuming, due to the new POP £2.50 cap which came in, as of, yesterday. Bargain really which isn't something you say about British Rail very often - if ever.

 

[Anvil1984]

Yeah, seems like on football days when they double them up they tended to use Platform 2/3 instead so assume something must be booked on 6.

Side note, noticed all the fares have decreased to £2.00 off peak and £2.40 peak time to/from Newcastle from all stations, assuming, due to the new POP £2.50 cap which came in, as of, yesterday. Bargain really which isn't something you say about British Rail very often - if ever.

Platform 6 tends to be used from xx- 17 - xx26 and xx47 - xx04 give or take a few minutes. Theoretically they could be moved to platform 9 but they may struggle for punctuality due to fighting for space across the ladders on KEB

 

[Snex]

Platform 6 tends to be used from xx- 17 - xx26 and xx47 - xx04 give or take a few minutes. Theoretically they could be moved to platform 9 but they may struggle for punctuality due to fighting for space across the ladders on KEB

Yeah that's fair. I don't know whether any through trains are using P6/7 right now, but surely getting the Ashington trains back into P1 and either moving the layover for the Morpeth trains back to Morpeth or just block P6 completely with them.

If, some how, they get more trains it's surely better than the Ashington trains taking a full platform up.

Not that I really expect more trains tbh.

 

[Anvil1984]

Yeah that's fair. I don't know whether any through trains are using P6/7 right now, but surely getting the Ashington trains back into P1 and either moving the layover for the Morpeth trains back to Morpeth or just block P6 completely with them.

If, some how, they get more trains it's surely better than the Ashington trains taking a full platform up.

Not that I really expect more trains tbh.

I doubt moving the layover to Morpeth is possible due to the lack of 75 mph paths combined with paths that don’t conflict with the movements on and off the Northumberland Line at Benton Junction (both freight and passenger)

In reality the best we can expect is medium term hopefully Northern can get its hands on the Welsh 158s and create a number of 3 car sets out of them. It would ease some of the overcrowding (especially on Monday to Friday where with the exception of 2 or 3 services in the peak direction strengthening isn’t actually needed in my opinion, some services could use a 153 each way and it not be a problem) and not be an issue with Newcastle P5 or Manors